Solids fluid contacting process



March 24,/ 1959 'FJ'.Ied'NOV. 25, 1955' United States Patent 2,879,226 soLms FLUID coNrAcrlNG PROCESS Robert C. Oliver and Cloyd P. Reeg, Long Beach, Calif., assignors to Union Oil Company of California, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 25, 1955, Serial No. 548,976

5 Claims. (Cl. 208-136) grading of fuels, solvents, and the like in which the low grade hydrocarbon is contacted directly under hydrocarbon conversion conditions of pressure, temperature and composition with a recirculating mass of solid granular contact material. Specifically this invention is an improvement in those regenerative hydrocarbon conversion and other contacting processes in which granular solids are passed downwardly as a moving bed through a reaction zone in contact with fluids to be treated and are the spent solids thus formed are completely regenerated in one step and are then pretreated in a separate step prior to introduction into the reaction zone during the passage of the granular solids as a continuous elongated uid-permeable bed moving upwardly successively through a conveyance-regeneration and a conveyancepretreating zone.

Modern chemical engineering practice includes a great many catalytic and noncatalytic solids-huid contacting processes for the treatment of solids or the treatment of uids or both. In many of these processes the contact material does not become spent or deactivated during prolonged use, but in most processes, such as in the catalytic hydrocarbon conversion processes, the contact material degenerates due to the deposit of a hydrocarbonaceous material referred to generally as catalytic coke, and other causes. To continue the process a regeneration or re-A activation of the solid material is required and, again using hydrocarbon conversion processes as an example,

this may be done by contacting the spent contact material ,l

with an oxygen containing gas. v

The description of the present invention is conducted generally with reference to the conversion of hydrocarbons in the presence of solid granular contact material, but it is to be understood that the principles of this invention are not limited only to such processes. They are applicable to other processes in which regeneration of the contact material is required and in which a pretreatment of the thus regenerated material is desirable prior to returning the solid material to the reaction zone.

fluid reactant streams. in general are advantageously treated under reaction conditions of temperature and pressure in the presence of a solid granular contact material, which may or may not have catalytic activity, to produce fluid products having improved properties. the eld of petroleum rening, hydrocarbon fractions boiling between the limits of about 75 F. and 750 F. and including the light and heavy naphthas or gasolines and the light and heavy gas-oil fractions, are treated at relatively high pressures and temperatures in the presence of solid contact materials to desulfurize, denitrogenate, hydrogenate, dehydrogenate, reform, aromatize, isomerize, or polymerize such hydrocarbon fractions to produce products having desirable properties which particularly t Patented Mar. 24, 1959 blending stock, or diesel or jet engine fuels, and the like.

In the particular ields of gas-oilv and gasoline desulfurization and in gasoline reforming, the particular chemical reactions involved are conducted at temperatures ranging between about 600 F. and about 850 F. for desulfurization and at temperatures of from about 700 F. to about ll00 F. for reforming. 'Ihe reactions are usually effected in the presence of a catalyst and between about 500 and about 10,000 s.c.f. (standard cubic feet) of hydrogen recycle -gas per barrel of feed. These reactions have been found to be considerably improved by conducting them at elevated pressures ranging from about 50 p.s.i. (pounds per square inch) to about 2500 p.s.i., pressures of the order of between 250 p.s.i. and about 1500 p.s.i. being often used.

In the regeneration ofA spent hydrocarbon conversion catalysts a separate regeneration zone is employed in those processes in which the granular solid material is recirculated. This regeneration zone may be disposed above or below the reaction zone in a vstructurewhich is rather tall and in which the solids gravitate from one contacting zone to the other. The solids must thus be conveyed through a height generally exceeding the total heightof the two contacting zones. Furthermore elongated sealing legs are usually .required between the contacting zones to permitsealing them one from the other and to permit the usel of different pressures for reaction and regeneration and this increases the total height.

To avoid such excessive structural heights, the reaction and vregeneration Zones are often disposed in separate columns side by side so that the solids must be conveyed from each column to the other to maintain circulation. The vsame sealing legs are usually required. Although this .requires shorter elevators, the total conveyance distance is roughly the same and the solids lossdue to attrition is yfrequently greater since the solids must be picked up and dumped twice per cycle through the whole equipment.

In some particular catalytic hydrocarbon upgrading processes in whichthe hydrocarbons are desulfurized, isomerized, dehydrocyclized, hydrocracked, denitrogenated, dehydrogenated or reformed or aromatized, using a chromium oxide, molybdenum oxide, or cobalt molybdate catalyst, a third treating process in addititon to reaction/and regeneration is frequently desirable. This involvcs the chemical reduction of the catalyst, usually with hydrogen, immediately-following the oxidative regeneration step and immediately preceding further contact of the catalyst with hydrocarbons in the reaction zone. In the two column ymodification this may require an additional column and an additional conveyor. In the i veyance and contactinguhas been incorporated whereby Hydrocarbon fractions in particular and many other Iny ' height reduction may be realized. Instead of the extensive Well suit them for hydrocarbon cracking feed, gasoline conveyance path through which the solids are circulated in the one and two column processes of the prior art, in the process of the present invention the solids, per cycle through thesystem, only move downwardly through the reactor and then upwardly through the regenerator and pretreating `zones to the beginning point. It is thus apparent that a very substantial reduction, as much as 70%.,

in the distance through which the solids move per cycle has been achieved and a corresponding substantial reduction in granular solids loss through attrition has .also been realized.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved solids uid contacting process in which a recirculatory stream of solid contact material moving as a dense moving bed is employed.

It is a more specitic object of the present invention to provide an improved hydrocarbon conversion process in which recirculated solid contact material passes Vdownwardly through a reaction zone and then upwardly successively through a regeneration zone and a pretreating zone as a continuous, dense, moving hed to complete the cycle.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide an limproved process for the catalytic upgrading Vof low grade hydrocarbons in the presence of a recirculating lstream of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst.

It is a specic object of lthis invention to provide an improved process for upgrading low grade gasolines or naphthas contaminated with hydrocarbon derivatives of sulfur whereby the gasoline -is desulfurized and aromatized in the presence of a catalyst and a recirculating stream containing hydrogen to produce high grade gasoline blending stocks and in which the spent catalyst owing from the bottom of the reaction zone is movedupwardly as a dense moving bed successively through a ren generation zone (in which coke is burned from the spent catalyst forming an oxidized regenerated catalyst) and then upwardly as a dense mass through a pretreating zone (in which the oxidized catalyst is reduced with hydrogen to form a regenerated high activity reforming catalyst) and tinally into the contacting zone.

Itis also an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus to accomplish the foregoing objects.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those Askilled in the art as the description and illustration thereof proceed.

Briefly the present invention comprises an improved process and apparatus for ysolids-huid contacting in the presence of a recirculating stream of granular solid contact material which is passed successively through a reaction zone and then through a regeneration zone so as to maintain high contact eiiiciency. The present invention specifically comprises an improved process in which the granular solid contact material is passed from an elevated solids inlet point downwardly by gravity through a contacting or conversion `zone maintained under appropriate reaction conditions of temperature, pressure and composition and through which the uid to be contacted isy passed, either concurrently with, or countercurrently to the movingsolids' bed. The uids 'are disengaged from the solids and removed from the reaction zone after passage therethrough. The spentsolid contact material is removed by gravity from the bottom ofthe reaction zone at a controlled rate and preferably-so `asfto control the ow distribution of the contact material downwardly throughout the-entire cross sectional area of the reaction zone.

The spent solids are `then passed into `a mechanically scalable solids pressuring zone of 4relatively small height in which they are either continuously Aor intermittently pressured to a substantiallyv higher pressure than 'that maintained in the reaction zone. This may be done by isolating a volume of spent granular materialin a pressuring zone and introducing a high pressure uid so as to raise the pressure of uids present in the interstices of the solids by an appropriate amount which is substantially equal to the over-all pressure differential existing between the inlet and outlet ends of the associated conveyanceregeneration and conveyance-pretreating zones described below. v.The pressureincrease isordinarily a substantial amount, such as `from to 250 p.s.i.g. or more.

The actual amount depends upon the physical size of the granular solid contact material, the absolute density of the solid particles, the height of the reaction zone, and the rate of tluid flow.

The pressured solids are then removed from the sealable pressuring zone and passed downwardly by gravity to form a moving accumulation thereof which submerges the lower inlet opening of a vertically elongated conveyance-regeneration zone. A conveyance-regeneration gas Vis passed into th-is accumulation, then through the lowerinlet opening, and then upwardly through the conveyance-regeneration zone concurrently with an upwardly moving continuous elongated mass of gas permeable granular solids. During this upward movement regeneration or reactivation of the spent granular solids is accomplished. The temperature and pressure and conveyanceregeneration uid composition are all controlled so as to effect a substantially complete reactivation herein.

Il`he elevation of the solids is continued to a height corresponding to an intermediate point along the length of the-reaction column structure. At this point the regenerated granular solids are discharged into an intermediate ,sealing vessel or zone so as to restrict the discharge of the mass of granular solids from the conveyance-regeneration zone, but without any substantial restriction of the discharge of the conveyance-regeneration gas. The major part of the spent regeneration gas is disengaged from the solids, the solids pass downwardly as a moving bed by gravity with the minor part of the spent regeneration gas into the intermediate sealing zone. The solids continue into the lower inlet opening of the conveyance-pretreating zone. A seal gas comprising the minor .portion of spent regeneration gas and a part of a pretreating gas is removed from an intermediate point in said b ed, a pretreating gas -is introduced ata low point therein and major part of this gas passes concurrently with an upwardly moving mass of gas permeable solids from the `intermediate sealing zone through the vconveyance-pretreating zone.

During this second conveyance step the regenerated solids are pretreated and conveyed and are introduced directly into the contacting zone for subsequent downward passage therethrough. It is thus seen Ythat the regeneration and the pretreatment are effected during :elevation of the spent solids from the bottom of the reaction zone to the top thereof, no separate conveyance steps as such ybeing employed, and the solids are moved through the lprocess along a path Whose total distance per cycle is notsubstantially greater than twice the distance downwardly through the reaction zone, rather than a path whose length is substantially greater than twice the total distance through the reaction and the regeneration zones.

As above indicated the granular solids move upwardly as a dense mass which is permeable to gas ow in the regeneration and pretreating zones. This is a novel form of conveyance and contacting and in order to accomplish it several essential requirements must be met. These requirements are briey described below.

The `granular `solids flow by gravity from the bottom of the column into-the conveyance conduit inlet with the conveyance uid. They are then transferred through the conveyance conduit in compact form by means of the concurrently depressuring conveyance fluid. The frictional lforces generated by the conveyance fluid depressuring through the interstices of the fluid permeable compact mass of v granular solids generate a pressure or force gradient in the ow direction throughout the entire length of the mass sufficient to counteract opposing forces of friction of the solids sliding against the walls of the conduit as well as the opposing force of gravitation. 'Thereby, movement of the compact porous granular mass in the direction of decreasing conveyance fluid pressure is established and maintained so long as solids are fed at the inlet and removed from the outlet.

The depessuring conveyance uid generates a pressure drop per unit length of conduit n vdl di dl ps COS 9 This factor is termed the conveyance force ratio and is the ratio of the force tending to move the solids through the conveyance conduit to the opposing forces of gravity tending to restrain such ilow. The conveyance fluid must be depressured through the conduit at a rate sufficient to raise the conveyance force ratio to a value greater than 1.0 (factors in any consistent units) in order that the conveying force exceed the forces resisting ow. The amount by which the conveyance force ratio must exceed a value of 1.0 is equal to the magnitude of the friction forces also tending to resist solids ow and usually approximates 0.1 to 0.3.

The granular solids are maintained during conveyance in compact form at their static bulk density by means of the application of a thrust or solids compressive force on the mass of solids issuing from the outlet of the conveyance conduit. Various means are available for applying such a force which has the effect of restricting the discharge rate of granular solids from the conveyance conduit but has virtually no effect on the discharge of the conveyance fluid therefrom. A transverse thrust plate or a grid or the inner wall of a solids-receiving chamber may be spaced opposite and adjacent the outlet opening, or a static bed of solids may be used to submerge .this outlet.

. Thus, it is essential vthat the inlet of the conveyance conduit be kept submerged in a bed of solids to be con veyed, that the conveyance iluid iiows through the conveyance zone at a rate sucient to generate a conveyance force ratio greater than 1.0 throughout the conveyance zone, thatmeans be provided for applying a compacting force against the solids discharging from the conveyance zone, and also that a solids flow control means be provided to regulate the rate at which granular solids are withdrawn from the solids-receiving vessel surrounding the conveyance zone outlet so as to maintain the outlet submerged in a moving bed of discharged solids.

The process of this invention as above 4described briey is particularly applicable to the catalytic conversion or upgrading of hydrocarbons in the presence of a recirculated hydrogen stream. The process so applied may involve catalytic dehydrogenation, cyclization, or aromatization `and it may also involve catalytic desulfurization and denitrogenation, as well as other familiar hydrocarbon treating and upgrading processes. When the process is `so applied, the hydrocarbons to be converted are heated to conversion temperatures and passed through the reaction zone at appropriate pressures in the presence of a hydrogen recycle gas.Y The hydrogen recycle is then separated from the reaction zone effluent. A portion of this gas is employed to pretreat or reduce the catalyst, the spent contact material comprises a coked or hydrocarf bonaceous catalyst, the conveyance regeneration fluid comprises an oxygen-containing gas such as air, and the conveyance-pretreating uid comprises a gas containing hydrogen which effectively reduces the regenerated catalyst during the second conveyance stage.

Obviously this is only one application of the present invention which is not intended to be limited to this application only. -On the contrary it is intended that the Aprocess be applicable to any solids-Huid contacting proc- 'esame esses in which, in addition to the siai reaction(andv regeneration steps, a third contacting step is required or desirable.

The present invention and the various modications thereof will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an elevation view in partial cross section of the apparatus in which the three-stage contacting process referred to above is carried out, in combination with a schematic ow diagram of the process, and

Figure 2 is a modified form of part of the' apparatus.

The description of the drawings is given'by Way of example of the process applied in the catalytic upgrading of low grade petroleum naphtha to produce a high quality aromatic gasoline blending stock of substantially reduced sulfur analysis in the presence of a recirculating stream of granular cobalt molybdate catalyst.

The feed naphtha being upgraded in the process of this invention has the following physical properties.

The granular reforming catalyst consists of cobalt molybdate impregnated on @A6-inch activated alumina granules, analyzing about 9% M003 and 3% C00 by weight. The catalyst is circulated through `the column at a rate'of 5000 pounds per hour. The preparation of this catalyst may be by any of the methods described in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,369,432, 2,325,033, 2,486,361, if desired, or by other methods.

The feed naphtha having the foregoing properties is pumped by means not shown through line 10 ata pressure of about 425 p.s.i.g. (pounds per square inch gauge) and at a rate of 10,000 barrels (42 U.S. gallons per barrel). per day controlled by valve 12 into and through heater 14 wherein it is heated to a temperature of about 900 F. and is vaporized. The naphtha vapor enters inlet 16, is engaged with the downwardly flowing bed of catalyst in feed engaging zone 18, and passes upwardly successively through first reaction zone 20, second reaction zone- 22,`

and third reaction zone 24. v The recycle hydrogen is introduced through line 26 controlled by valve 28 into and through recycle gas heater 30. This recycle gas contains between about 50% and about 80% or more by volume of hydrogen. It is heated to a temperature of about 900 F. and is divided into several parts, the primary stream ilowing through line 32 at a rate of about 3,000 s.c.f./b. (standard cubic feet per barrel) controlled by valve 34 into primary recycle gas en`- gaging zone 36. The gas is herein engaged with the downwardly moving bed of catalyst, passes upwardly through spent catalyst stripping zone 38 to remove residual naphtha from the catalyst, mixes with the feed naptha'in engaging zone 18, and passes upwardly through the serially connected reaction zones with the naphtha vapor.

SinceA the dehydrogenation and aromatization of naphtha are essentially endothermic reactions and since rthe best results are obtained by maintaining closely con-A` trolled temperature conditions within the reaction zones, several supplementary streams of recycle hydrogen each heated to a temperature above the desired reaction zone temperature are introduced at spaced points between the naphtha inlet and product outlet in the reaction. column. Thus the remainder of the hydrogen recycle gas iows through line 40, is further heated to an elevated temperature between about l000 F. and about 1500 F. in heater 42, and is introduced through lines 44 and 46 at rates of about 1500 s.c.f./b. controlled respectively by valves 48 and 50 into secondary andv tertiary hydrogen injection zones'52 and54. rBy this'means -heated-'h'ydrogen is admixed with the reactant mixture of naphtha vapor and hydrogen, giving Vup its sensible heat vthereto and overcoming the temperature decreases in the reaction zone characteristic of the endothermic reaction. As many injection zones may be ,used as necessary to `keep the reactant gas mixture as close to the desired reaction zone temperature as desired. 'Usually two or three such injection zones betweenthe reactor inlet and outlet will be sufficient.

The converted hydrocarbon and hydrogen mixture is disengaged from the moving catalystbed in eiuent disengaging zone 56. It passes at a. temperature of about 880 'F. to line '58 into ellluent condenser 60 wherein all but the normally gaseous constituents are condensed. The mixture is then introduced to vapor liquid separator 62 from which the liquid product gasoline is removed at arate of 9500 barrels per day controlled by valve 64 actuated by liquid level `controller 66 and is sent to storage or further treatment through line 6 8.

The liquid product thus obtained has the following characteristics:

Table 2 Boiling range, F 100-410 Gravity, API 55 Sulfur, weight percent max 0.01 Nitrogen, weight percent 0.001 Knock rating (clear) 87 Knock rating (3, ml. TEL) 95 The sulfur removal is 99.5%, the nitrogen removal is 93.4%, the boiling range is broadened slightly, the gravity is almost unchanged, and the volumetric yield of 400 F. end point C4 free gasoline is the usually high value of 9,5% by volume.

The uncondensed materials, consisting essentially of hydrogen and the normally gaseous hydrocarbons, are removed from separator 62 through line 70. The net production of hydrocarbon gases and of hydrogen is removed through line v72 at a rate controlled by valve 74 actuated by back pressure regulator 76. The gas production from this process amounts to about 1,400 M s .c.f./day and it contains approximately 70% hydrogen and 30% hydrocarbon gases, mainly methane and ethane.

The remainder of the gas `phase passes through line 78 into recycle gas compressor 80 wherein the pressure is increased by about l to 50 p. s. i. g. or an amount equal to the pressure drop through the reactor and associated exchangers and piping. This high pressure hydrogen is returned through lines 82 and 26 and is recirculated 'through the reactor as described above.

'To achieve the above mentioned conveyance the catalyst recirculated in this process is passed downwardly through reactor column 84 as a dense moving bed 86. The rate at which the catalyst is recirculated in this process A'is controlled by reciprocating tray type solids feeder 88 at vthe bottom of reactor column 10. This is shown here lschematically but is well known in the art and described and claimed in U. S. Patents Nos. 2,544,214 and 2,647,587. Ther spent catalyst moves downwardly with a minor portion of recycle gas hydrogen past seal gas disengaginggone 90. A seal gas comprising a mixture of the .hydrogen and flue gas entering via line 98 is removed therefrom via line 9 2 at a rate controlled by valve 94 which prevents entry of ,hydrogen into the system subsequently described.

','LDisposed immediately below reactor column 84 is spent catalyst pressuring chamber 96 into which spent catalystis introduced intermittently through line 98 controlled by valve 100. With a charge of s pent catalyst indicated Agenerally as 102 in chamber 9 6, valve 100 is closed, and high pressure gas isintroduced 'by means of line. .104 controlled .by valve 106 to raise the 4pressure of .fluids associated with the ,solids from ^about 4'05 p.s.i.g. to 'about ,445 p .s.i. g. Valve ,106 is .c losed, valve 103 is opened and the pressuredspent solids discharged by gravity through 'line '110 into inclined transfer or inventory vessel 112 forming and maintaining a downwardly moving bed of spent solids 114. Level indicator 115 indicates solids level in 112 andthe system solids inventory. Valve 108 is then closed, chamber 96 is then depressured through line v116 controlled by valve 1 18 to a pressure substantially equal to that in reactor 84, i. e., about '4 05 p.s.i.g. Valve is then reopened to accept more spent solids and the cycle is repeated at a rate sufficient to pressure the solids at a rate equal to that set by reciprocating solids feeder 88.

lf desired and especially at relatively high rates of solids recirculationj a plurality of pressuring chambers 96 may be employed and operated in a staggered sequence so as to permit a substantially kcontinuous spent catalyst withdrawal. The associated control valves are actuated by means of cycle timer operator 120. If desired the pressuring chamber or chambers may be substituted with a continuous rotary solids feeding .device of the star feeder type vwhich permits continuous downward passage of solids into higher pressure zones but which prevents counterow et uids.

As indicated brieiiy abovethe contacting process of -this invention is characterized by the upilow regeneration and pretreatment ,zones through which the spent catalyst is conveyed and reacted in succession while it is being re-, turned to the upper solids inlet of reactor 84. Thisserially connected system consists of conveyance-regeneration Azone 122, intermediate engaging-disengaging zone 124, and conveyance-pretreating zone 126. The granular solids .pass as a moving bed in succession through these zones from accumulation 114 to the top of reactor 84 and during this time the spent catalyst is regenerated, sealed, and pretreated vto bring lit to a state of highest activity.

The lower inlet opening 128 of conveyance-regeneraf tion zone 122 is submerged in moving solids accumulation 114. The lower extremity of the regeneration zone lis surrounded by jacket 130 forming therein an annular conveyance-regeneration gas heating zone 132. Recirculated ilue vgas owing through line 134 is compressed in compressor 136 from about 405 p.s.i.g. to about `450 p.s.i.g. and is mixed with fresh oxygen flowing through line 138 at a rate controlled by valve 140 and oxygen analyzer controller l142. A conveyance-regeneration gas mixture containing 'between about 0.5% and about 10% oxygen by volume is thus formed and is passed through line 144. This gas passes through direct heat exchange with vthe regenerating catalyst in regeneration zone 122 while `passing through preheating zone 132. This raises the gas temperature to a variable value higher than the coked catalyst vignition temperature which ordinarily is about 500 F. T his gas mixture enters moving bed -114 through solids level 146, flows downwardly into the-solids bed Yand into opening 12S-with the spent solids. The gas ilows concurrently with the spent catalyst upwardly through regeneration-zone 122 Awhile the oxygen content is depleted and is discharged into intermediate sealing zone 124 with the regenerated catalyst.

'The moving catalyst during regeneration in zone 122 is maintained as a dense compact mass by restricting the discharge of solids from outlet opening 148 land this restriction is eifected by the presence of the downwardly moving bed of regenerated catalyst 150 which 'submerges the outlet opening 148. Batlle plate 152 is provided -to apply the solids ow restrictive force and in the event of upset conditions to prevent the discharge of solids through spent regeneration gas outlet line 154. The major part of the regeneration gas is disengaged fromthe solids and ows `through line 154 at a temperature of about 1200 F. containing as sensible heat the 'heatjliberated during 4the regeneration. This gas hows through dust separator i156, and is recirculated through Vvthe regeneration .zone by passing 'it through line 162, heat 1.1.1.1-

stesse terchager l164, and'then back through lin 134 asv described. The sensible heat may be recovered in exchanger 164 to preheat the naphtha feed, to Vpreheat the countercurrently to a minor portion of hydrogen rich` pretreating gas passing upwardly therethrough from engaging zone 170. A portion of the hydrogen recycle gas, or other hydrogen rich gas, is introduced into zone 170 through line 172 at a rate of about 3000 s.c.f./ton of catalyst controlled by valve 174. A minor portion of this hydrogen passes upwardly as described through sealing zone 168 for removal as the seal gas through line 158 at ja rate controlled by valve 160 4in response to differential pressure recorder controller 161 so as to maintain the seal in zone 168.

The remaining major portion of hydrogen passes downwardly concurrently with the solids into return bend 176 and upwardly concurrently with the moving mass of regenerated catalyst through conveyance-pretreating zone 126. Herein a partial reduction of the catalyst is effected in the second stage'of the conveyance to bring the catalyst to its highest state of naphtha upgrading activity. The solids are maintained as a moving mass of compact g-ranular catalyst solids by discharging them against thrust plate 178, lor against the top of reactor 84, or by other means previously described. If desired, the spent pretreating gas may be disengaged from the catalyst at this point through outlet 180 whereby a portion of catalyst fines may be elutriated from the solids. In another modification this conveyance gas may be allowed to remain with the catalyst and to ow downwardly concurrently with moving catalyst bed 86 whereby it is removed with the hydrogen and hydrocarbon eiliuent taken from eluent disengaging zone 56.

Elutriation of fines from the catalyst can be accomplished either at the top of intermediate vessel 124 or of the reactor vessel by controlled disengagement of gases at each of these points.

An alternative structural form of intermediate chamber 124 is shown in Figure 2. In this design, the large diameter elbow in regenerator 122 has been eliminated. The operation is the same as in Figure l.

The foregoing illustrates the application of this invention to the catalytic desulfurization and reforming of a low grade hydrocarbon petroleum naphtha to produce an upgraded solvent or gasoline blending stock. The prior art processes for such hydrocarbon upgrading on a 10,000 barrels per day scale require a superimposed reactor-regenerator-sealing leg combination having a height often of the order of 300 feet. In the two column modification a parallel reactor and regenerator are required together with their sealing legs and this modification has a maximum elevation of from 175 to 200 feet.

In the present invention a reactor having a diameter of about 12 feet and a height of about 60 feet is employed and the regeneration and pretreatment are both effected during conveyance of the spent catalyst upwardly through a path immediately adjacent this reactor column. The structure required for the apparatus of this invention is thus less than 30% as high as the maximum height structure previously required and in addition all sealing legs and catalyst conveyors have been eliminated. A number of additional advantages are also realized and these include a very substantial reduction in power requirement and heat necessary for ue gas recycle compressor 136 because the regeneration zone is also reduced in height. This zone may be of the order of-30 to 5.0 feet in elevation and have a diameter of vbef tween about 10 and aboutv 60 inches. A vervy desirable.- improvement is also effected in eliminating conveyance fluids by conveying the regenerated catalyst by means of a hydrogen pretreatment stream since high pressure hy-l drogen is available in the process as a recycle stream through the reaction zone. A further advantageqis. real ized in that the volume of the apparatus of the present invention is found to be less than about one-half of they volume of the one cblumn or two columnvmodifications of the prior art for an equivalent operating pressure and feed rate. While this reduction obviously eiects substantial savings in structural steel it also etects a` proportionate reduction in the quantity of catalystinventory necessary toll andoperate theA apparatus.` Many other advantages and improvementswill occurto those skilled in the art this disclosure.

Although the foregoing process and apparatus were described in connection with the desulfurizaton and re-l forming of hydrocarbon fractions in contact with cobalt molybdate catalyst, it should be understood that the me.v

chanical and process advantages of the apparatus in perI mitting simultaneous high pressure and low pressure.

fluid-solids contact in a single column of substantially reduced heightrnay be realized in other processes-employing other catalystsk and other -reactant fluids. In addition, it should be understood that although other rey forming and desulfurization catalysts may be employedA in the present invention, cobalt molybdate -is the preferred catalyst since it yhas both desulfurization and rep forming activityl and thus aV givenl installation may be employed to remove sulfur and nitrogen from either naphtha or gas-oil fractions under certain temperature and pressure conditions, or by changing these temperature and pressure conditions, a petroleum naphtha or other low-grade gasoline may be reformed to reproduce premium-grade internal combustion engine fuels. In the example process above, simultaneous aromatization, desulfurization, and denitrogenation were effected with cobalt molybdate catalyst.

In the present invention applied to naphtha reforming and desulfurization, the preferred operating conditions with a cobalt molybdate catalyst are as follows:

Table 3 Liquid hourly space velocity 1.0 Catalyst residence time in reactor hours 24 Average reactor temperature F 900 Average reactor pressure p.s.i.g 400 Hydrogen to naphtha ratio, s.c.f. per barrel 4,000

When the process of this invention is applied to the desulfurization and denitrogenation of gas-oil fraction with a cobalt molybdate catalyst the following are preferred A particular embodiment of the present invention has. been hereinabove described in considerable detail by way of illustration. It should be understood that various other` modifications and adaptations thereof may be made bythose skilled in this particular art without departing fromthe spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the:

. appended claims.

We claim:

1.An improved process for effecting the upgrading.;

of hydrocarbons by contact with a moving bed of granubon upgrading zone and then through a solids pres,r`

upon detailed consideration of suring zone, then lifting said catalyst upwardly through a lower4 catalyst regeneration zone, then downwardly throughan intermediate sealing zone, and vfinally upwardlythroughareduction zone and back into said hydrocar-bon upgrading zone, the catalyst in each of said zones'bei-ngcirculated as a compact moving bed having substantially its static bulk density, passing a low grade hydrocarbon plus hydrogen through said upgradingzone.

moving bed, introducing a hydrogen-containing reduction gas at a point B near the bottom of said vsealing zone, withdrawing the major portion of said reduction gas at the top of ysaid reduction zone, controlling the rate of4 withdrawal of said major portion of reduction gas so, as tomaintain a pressure dropv across said reduction zone suiiicient to convey said catalyst upwardly as a dense moving bed, withdrawing the remainder of saidV spent regeneration gas andthe remainder of said reduction, gas from said` sealing zone at a point fC located betweenpoints A' and B, controllingk the rate of withdrawal of gas at'point C to prevent any substantial interminglingy offre- `generation and reduction gases in zones upstreamwardly from point A and downstreamwardly from point B, and owing said catalyst Idirectly and as a substantially continuous bed through the contacting zones adjacent saidl points A, C and B without introducing, extraneous seal gas.

2. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtcatal'yst.

comprises an active ingredient selected from the class consisting of molybdenum oxide, chromiumy oxide, and cobalt rnolybdate.

3,.` A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said catalyst consists essentially of a minor proportion of cobalt oxide plus molybdenum oxide distended on a carrier which is. predominantly activated alumina.

4'. A process as defined in claim l wherein said hyd'rocarbon reactant is a low grade naphtha and said reaction zone is maintained at between about 700 andv ll00 F., anda pressure between about 250 and. 15.00 p.s.il to ei'ect reforming.

5 A process asdened, in claim l in combination with the vstep ofV controlling the rate of removal of mixed gas v from said'point C in accordance with a measured dileren.-

tial pressure between point C and point B.

References Citedin the le of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,930 Berg Iuly 27, 1954 2,689,821. Imhoi et al. Sept. 21, 1954 2,716,050 Hagerbaumer Aug. 23, 1955 2,739,994 Bills Mar. 27, 1956"` 2,743,814 Berg May 1, 1956 2,793,170 Stiles et al May 21,A 1957 

1. AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR EFFECTING THE UPGRADING OF HYDROCARBONS BY CONTACT WITH A MOVING BED OF GRANULAR CATALYST, WHICH COMPRISES CIRCULATING SAID GRANULAR CATALYST DOWNWARDLY BY GRAVITY FIRST THROUGH A HYDROCARBON UPGRADING ZONE AND THEN THROUGH A SOLIDS PRESSURING ZONE, THEN LIFTING SAID CATALYST UPWARDLY THROUGH A LOWER CATALYST REGENERATION ZONE, THEN DOWNWARDLY THROUGH AN INTERMEDIATE SEALING ZONE, AND FINALLY UPWARDLY THROUGH A REDUCTION ZONE AND BACK INTO SAID HYDROCARBON UPGRADING ZONE, THE CATALYST IN EACH OF SAID ZONES BEING CIRCULATED AS A COMPACT MOVING BED HAVING SUBSTATIALLY ITS STATIC BULK DENSITY, PASSING A LOW GRADE HYDROCARBON PLUS HYDROGEN THROUGH SAID UPGRADING ZONE UNDER CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE EFFECTIVE FOR CATALYTIC UPGRADING, RAISING THE INTERSTITIAL FLUID PRESSURE OF SAID CATALYST IN SAID PRESSURING ZONE BY AN INCREMENTAL AMOUNT SUBSTIANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE HEREINAFTER DEFINED COMBINED PRESSURE DROP ACROSS SAID REGENERATION ZONE AND SAID REDUCTION ZONE, PASSING AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING REGENERATION GAS CONCURRENTLY WITH THE CATALYST IN SAID REGENERATION ZONE, WITHDRAWING THE A MAJOR PORTION OF SPENT REGENERATION GAS AT A POINT A NEAR THE TOP OF SAID SEALING ZONE, CONTROLLING THE RATE OF SAID WITHDRAWAL SO AS TO MAINTAIN A PRESSURE DROP ACROSS SAID REGENERATION ZONE SUFFICIENT TO CONVEY SAID CATALYST UPWARDLY AS A DENSE MOVING BED, INTRODUCING A HYDROGEN-CONTAINING REDUCTHE TOP OF SAID REDUCTION ZONE, CONTROLLING THE RATE OF WITHDRAWING THE MAJOR PORTION OF SAID REDUCTION GAS SO AS THE TOP OF SAID REDUCTION ZONE, CONTROLLING THE RATE OF WITHDRAWL OF SAID MAJOR PORTION OF REDUCTION GAS SO AS TO MAINTAIN A PRESSURE DROP ACROSS SAID REDUCTION ZONE SUFFICIENT TO CONVEY SAID CATALYST UPWARDLY AS A DENSE MOVING BED, WITHDRAWING THE REMAINDER OF SAID SPENT REGENERATION GAS AND THE REMAINDER OF SAID REDUCTION GAS FROM SAID SEALING ZONE AT A POINT C LOCATED BETWEEN POINTS A AND B, CONTROLLING THE RATE OF WITHDRAWAL OF GAS AT POINT C TO PREVENT ANY SUBSTANTIAL INTERMINGLING OF REGENERATION AND REDUCTION GASEES IN ZONES UPSTREAMWARDLY FROM POINT A AND DOWNSTREAMWARDLY FROM POINT B, AND FLOWING SAID CATALYST DIRECTLY AND AS A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS BED THROUGH THE CONTACTING ZONES ADJACENT SAID POINTS A, C AND B WITHOUT INTRODUCING EXTRANEOUS SEAL GAS. 